Impatiens plant named Moorea

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea impatiens named Moorea, particularly characterized by its compact growth habit with excellent branching characteristics, large, pure white flowers, early flowering and very floriferous habits, medium green foliage, and suitability to 4 inch and 6 inch pots, and 8 inch hanging basket cultures.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of plant known as impatiens and commerically known as New Guinea inpatiens. The new cultivar is known by the cultivar name Moorea, and was developed by the inventor Ludwig Kientzler in Gensingen, Federal Republic of Germany by crossing the cultivar designated WW 282 (see parent) with the cultivar IW 913 (pollen parent). Both cultivars are proprietary cultivars in the breeding program.

Asexual reproduction by terminal (stem tip) cuttings taken by me or under my supervision at Gensingen, Federal Republic of Germany, has shown that the unique features of this new impatiens are stabilized and are reproduced true to type in successive propagations.

The following characteristics distinguish the new impatiens from both its parent varieties and other cultivars of this general type known and used in the floriculture industry:

1. Compact growth habit with excellent branching characteristics. Plants in 16.5 cm pots were 20 cm tall and 36 cm wide, eight weeks after first flowering.

2. Large, pure white flowers. Open flowers measure sup to 6.5 cm in diameter.

3. Early flowering and very floriferous. Plants in 16.5 cm pots were in flower 6 weeks after planting.

4. Medium green foliage.

5. Well suited both to 4" pot and 6" pot, and 8" hanging basket culture.

Moorea is similar in many respects to Jasius, disclosed in U.S. Pat. Plant No. 7,345. The flower color of Moorea is pure white, similar in color to Jasius. The leaf color of Moorea is similar to Jasius. Moorea has a more compact growth habit, has larger flowers and blooms earlier than Jasius. Reference is made to Chart A at the end of the specification which compares certain characteristics of Moorea and Jasius.

The accompanying colored photograph is a top perspective view of the new cultivar, showing color as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in a colored reproduction of this type.

The following is a detailed description of my new impatiens cultivar based on plants grown under commercial practice in Encinitas, Calif. Plants were started as rooted cuttings and were transplanted in mid-November in 16.5 cm (6.5 inch) pots, one pot per plant. By mid-January, plants were growing vigorously and were in flower. The values, measurements and observations noted below were taken from plants in full bloom in mid-February.

Color references are made to the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (RHS), except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Parentage: Cross between WW 282 (seed) and IW 913 (pollen).

Asexual reproduction:

A. Cutting type.--Tip, with stems 2-3 cm long and developing to 4-5 cm after 21 days in propagation.

B. Time to initiate roots.--8-10 days at 23° C.; nicely developed root mass in 18-21 days.

C. Rooting habit.--Numerous, fibrous, adventitious roots from the stem.

Plant description:

A. Form.--Symmetrical, bush shaped, flowering herb, with self-branching characteristics giving the plant a full appearance. Pinching is not recommended since it does not enhance branching and only delays flowering by removing flower buds.

B. Habit of growth.--Vigorous, self-branching habit, producing whorls of leaves and flowers. Growth is indeterminate and flowering is continuous.

C. Foliage description.--Leaves are simple. Lower leaves on stems in whorls of 2-3. Higher on stem, leaves in whorls of predominantly 5. 1. Leaf shape: Broadly elliptic to ovate. Leaf blade tips are acuminate; bases of immature leaves are acute, mature leaves, attenuate. 2. Leaf blade size: Mature leaves 12 cm long and 5 cm wide. 3. Petiole length: 2 cm. 4. Leaf margin: Ciliated and finely serrated. 5. Leaf texture: Slightly rugose. a. Upper surface: Glabrous. b. Under surface: Glabrous. 6. Leaf color: Medium green. a. Upper surface: Darker than 137A. b. Under surface: Green, near 147C. 7. Venation: Pinnate.

Flowering description:

A. Flowering habits.--Very floriferous. Flowering is continuous. Flowers develop progressively around the whorl of leaves, taking 5-7 days from buds which show color, to bloom. Flowers are single and large, lasting for 2-3 weeks.

B. Natural flowering season.--Flowering is indeterminate and occurs throughout the year. Quantity of flowers increases with increasing light intensity and duration. However, floriferousness may wane during hot summer days in temperate climates.

C. Flower buds.--Ellipsoidal and covered with 3 sepals plus rudimentary sepals fused into the under surface of the superior petal. A spur originates from the base of the inferior sepal. Spur is white and 5-5.5 cm long.

D. Flowers borne.--Usually singly, but occasionally 2 flowers on a forked pedicel. Greenish pedicels 4.5-5 cm long.

E. Quantity of flowers.--One flower per leaf, but sometimes 2, on a forked pedicel. Flowers occure progressively around the whorl of leaves so that tight buds to mature flowers are visible at the same time.

F. Petals.--Petals open nearly perpendicular to the pedicel so that the plane of the flower surface is nearly flat. 1. Number of petals: Five (5) petals, all overlapping. 2. Shape: All petals are heart-shaped. Superior petal has a broad base. Other petals have a pointed base. 3. Color: Pure white. a. Upper surface: Whiter than 155D. b. Under surface: Whiter than 155D. 4. Flower size: Up to 6.5 cm in diameter.

G. Reproductive organs.--Flowers are monoecious. 1. Stamens: Five (5), broad and fused to form a tube around the ovary; white in color. 2. Anther: Hooded and cream colored. 3. Pollen: White. 4. Stigma: Five pointed star, colorless. 5. Styles: Very short. 6. Ovary: 5-celled, 4-5 mm long until fertilized. Grows to 1 cm or longer after fertilization; green.

Resistance to disease: Good resistance to common stem and root disease, Rhizoctonia and Pythium. Botrytis may be a problem in humid or mist propagation environments, but no greater than with other New Guinea impatiens cultivars.

                  CHART A                                                          ______________________________________                                                    Moorea     Jasius                                                   ______________________________________                                         Flower Color RHS 155 D    RHS 155 D                                            Plant Height    20     cm       27   cm                                        (above the pot)                                                                Plant Width     35     cm       35   cm                                        Weeks to flower 6      wks      7    wks                                       Flower Diameter 6.5    cm       5.5  cm                                        ______________________________________                                     

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea impatiens named Moorea, as illustrated and described. 